The 33-year-old has not played since an Achilles injury 14 months ago. The midfielder, who is out of contract in the summer, last week underwent a ninth operation on the achilles injury which has sidelined him since October 2016.

- It is very sad. What this guy’s gone through is unbelievable and now he has to start again. This is a real pain, it’s terrible news. I was hopeful that he’d come back in January but that was before this setback. He has to wait until he can run again, after that it will be at least another six weeks. I just hope that he will play at some stage this season, said Wenger.

Wenger claimed last month that Cazorla’s injury is the worst he has ever seen. The Spanish international almost has his foot amputated after contracting a potentially life-threatening infection.